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Just two weeks into the season we already have our first major top 10 shakeup.

It was a wild week in the Shore Conference before and after the New Year, and when the dust settled it was Christian Brothers Academy making the jump five spots up to No. 4 in the Shore Sports Network Top 10.

It all started when Brick defeated Jackson Memorial for the first time in at least 12 years, winning 29-28 on criteria after Tommy Costanza’s late heroics to continue its hot start. The Dragons were then clipped by CBA, however, as the Colts won nine of 14 bouts in a 34-20 victory to improve to 7-0 and make their way into the Shore’s top five.

CBA, shown here with after winning the Walter Woods Tournament, jumps up five spots to No. 4 after its big win over Brick. (Photo courtesy of @CBAWrestle on Twitter).
CBA, shown here with after winning the Walter Woods Tournament, jumps up five spots to No. 4 after its big win over Brick. (Photo courtesy of @CBAWrestle on Twitter).
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The rest of the top 10 basically stood pat, and the same 10 teams that have been ranked over the last two weeks remain. Top-ranked Howell remained undefeated with three wins at the Henry Boresch Duals, including a 40-15 win over South Plainfield in the final. Brick Memorial beat Raritan and Roxbury before falling to New Jersey’s No. 1 team, Bergen Catholic. Southern had a great week in winning the Governor Mifflin Tournament in Pennsylvania and winning nonconference matches against High Point and Cherokee.

Wall, Toms River South and Toms River North didn’t wrestle in any duals during the week, and the Indians and Mariners have actually been idle since before the New Year. Wall won the Elizabeth Minutemen Tournament with six champions. Long Branch won four matches at Pennsylvania’s Council Rock North High School to win the Rock Yard Duals.

More showdowns loom this week as Howell hosts CBA in a match that will likely decide the Class A North champion, while the A South slate gets heated with Brick Memorial vs. Toms River South, Jackson vs. Southern, and Brick vs. Toms River North. Then there’s the big B North battle between Long Branch and Wall, plus Southern and Howell meeting in a huge nondivisional match.

 

 

1. Howell (6-0). Last week: No. 1

The Rebels enjoyed a 4-0 week with wins over Parsippany, Newton, Northern Burlington and South Plainfield, the latter three of which came during the Henry Boresch Duals. Freshman 106-pounder Kyle Slendorn is on fire with a 10-0 start and went 3-0 with two pins during the week, including a fall over another talented freshman, South Plainfield’s Joe Heilmann. Junior 126 Nick Ciaccia is also off to a fast start with a 9-2 record. He also went 3-0 with two pins and a 2-0 decision over South Plainfield’s Ryan Walsh. Two more crucial matches await the Rebels this week. They travel to face No. 4 CBA on Friday in a match that should decide the Class A North division title and then host a triangular match with Robbinsville and No. 3 Southern on Saturday.

 

2. Brick Memorial (3-1). Last week: No. 2

The Mustangs defeated Roxbury 48-18 and Raritan 52-19 before falling to Bergen Catholic, 49-26. Senior 145 Alec Donovan picked up career win No. 100 while improving to 10-1, sophomore Gianni Ghione and senior Cliff Ruggiero ran their records to 11-1 and sophomore Nick Rivera remained undefeated at 10-0 with seven pins. The Mustangs are back in action on Tuesday on the road against No. 9 Toms River South, and will wrestle Hanover Park on Sunday at Rutgers University before the No. 23 Scarlet Knights battle No. 2 Minnesota at noon.

 

3. Southern (3-0). Last week: No. 3

The Rams kicked it into gear this past week by winning the Governor Mifflin Tournament in Pennsylvania and sweeping a triangular match with High Point (47-13) and Cherokee (46-9).  Senior Matt Wilhelm captured the 160-pound title at the Governor Mifflin Tournament while Chris Crane (120), Gianni Bennet (126), Pat Mooney (145) and Connor Scully (195) reached the finals and finished second. Wilhelm is 8-0 and fellow senior James Knoeller (132) is 7-1 to lead the Rams so far. Southern hosts No. 6 Jackson Memorial on Wednesday in A South and travels to top-ranked Howell for a mega nondivisional match on Saturday.

 

4. Christian Brothers Academy (7-0). Last week: No. 9 

It was a huge week for the Colts as they improved to 7-0 with six wins, none bigger than a 34-20 victory over Brick in which they won nine of 14 bouts. Nick Koutzen, Liam Gallagher and Ben Kuhn had crucial wins in the lower half of the lineup and the upperweights held Brick to just three bonus points for an early-season statement win. CBA also posted wins over Monroe (40-25) and Middletown South (52-16) as part of that quad, and earlier in the week swept a quad with Cedar Grove (43-21), Newark Academy (36-12) and Morristown (51-7). Juniors Sebastian Rivera (113) and Dylan VanSickell (126) have both started 12-0 while freshman Rich Koehler is 11-1 at 106 pounds, senior Justin Kieslor is 11-2 at 170 and junior Will Oxley is 12-1 at 220. The chance is there for the Colts to potentially climb all the way to No. 1 when they host top-ranked Howell on Friday in a match that will most likely decide the Class A North division title. They also travel to Freehold on Monday and have a quad that includes Morris Knolls and Cranford on Saturday.

 

5. Brick (4-1). Last week: No. 5

It was a week of highs and lows for the Dragons, who ended up right back in the spot they were last week. Brick won a thriller against Jackson Memorial, 29-28 on criteria H: most points scored. Junior Tommy Costanza was the hero by pulling a five-point Peterson out of his hat at the buzzer for a 5-4 win over Hunter Reese at 145 pounds in the second-to-last bout. Brick also beat Monroe 42-30 and Middletown South 62-6, but was taken out by a red-hot CBA team, 34-20. Brick will take on No. 10 Toms River North on Wednesday, host St. John Vianney on Friday and participate in a quadrangular match with Manalapan and Central at Lacey on Saturday.

 

6. Jackson Memorial (4-1). Last week: No. 4

The Jaguars fell to Brick, 29-28 on criteria, in a thrilling A South battle on New Year’s Eve, but responded by blowing out Absegami (61-3), Ocean City (56-6) and Lower Cape May (66-11) in a Saturday quad to improve to 4-1. Senior heavyweight Brody Graham continues to be a hammer at the top of the Jags lineup, and had three pins and a win by forfeit during the week to move his season record to 11-0 with eight pins. Sophomores Matt McGowan (10-1 at 106) and Tim Hamann (10-3 at 138) have also started strong while junior 113 Mike Spino is 9-2. The A South grind continues for the Jaguars this week with a road match at No. 3 Southern and a home quad on Saturday with No. 10 Toms River North, state No. 2 St. Peter’s Prep and Passaic Valley.

 

7. Wall (1-0). Last week: No. 6

The Crimson Knights’ only wrestling of the week came Saturday at the Elizabeth Minutemen Tournament, and they dominated with six champions and 10 total top-three finishers. Freshman Jack Kelly (113), senior Denzel Tovar (120), sophomore Nick Wagner (126), junior Joe Demuner (132), junior Josh Glantzman (152) and sophomore Matt McKenzie (195) all won titles and Wall won the team title. Tovar and McKenzie are both undefeated at 9-0. The Crimson Knights have wrestled without a 106-pounder all season and haven’t had star 170-pounder Brett Donner, but he should be back for Saturday’s massive B North showdown with Long Branch. That meeting is part of a quad with Red Bank Catholic and River Dell, and Wall also has a nondivisional match at Manasquan on Wednesday and is scheduled to travel to face state No. 2 St. Peter’s Prep on Thursday.

 

8. Long Branch (5-0). Last week: No. 8

The Green Wave went 4-0 at the Rock Yard Duals in Pennsylvania, defeating Wissahickon (64-3), Pennsbury (42-24), Pennridge (37-25) and host Council Rock North (34-22) in the championship to take home the team title. Senior 126 Andy Hernandez continued his great start with three pins and a major decision. He is tied for the team lead in wins with 11 (11-1) along with juniors Mike Shohet (11-3 at 160), Lamont Reid (11-3 at 170) and Joey Jasio (11-1 at heavyweight). Long Branch takes on divisional foe Neptune on Tuesday before a crucial B North battle with No. 7 Wall on Saturday.

 

9. Toms River South (0-1). Last week: No. 7

The Indians have been idle since the Walter Woods Tournament on December 27, and that’s been a good thing for a team that was hit hard by the flu bug. The Indians need to be at or near full strength on Tuesday when they host No. 2 Brick Memorial. South also wrestles Toms River East on Friday and has a quad at St. Joseph (Montvale) with Pascack Hills and JFK-Iselin.

 

10. Toms River North (0-1). Last week: No. 10

The Mariners haven’t wrestled since taking fourth at the Hawk Classic on December 28. They return to action on Wednesday at home against No. 5 Brick and wrestle at No. 6 Jackson Memorial on Saturday in a quad also featuring state No. 2 St. Peter’s Prep and Passaic Valley.

 

Dropped out: none

 

Teams to watch:

Raritan (1-2): The Rockets lost to Roxbury 37-25 and Brick Memorial 52-19. They host Matawan on Wednesday in an A Central match and wrestle in a quad at Jackson Liberty with Freehold Township and Audubon on Saturday.

Ocean (5-0): The Spartans edged Point Boro 34-33, then got standout senior Zach Hertling back while sweeping a quad with Colts Neck (42-21), Red Bank Catholic (70-3) and Neptune (60-9). They host Red Bank on Thursday and travel to Roxbury on Saturday for a quad with Hopewell Valley and Middletown North.

Middletown North (2-0): The Lions topped Lacey 45-32 in their only action of the week. They host Marlboro on Wednesday and take on host Roxbury, Ocean and Hopewell Valley in a quad on Saturday.

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